Cathay Pacific grants pay rise, bonus for HK staff

More than 90 percent of the ground staff and cabin crew will receive an average 4.5 percent pay increase next year, while senior staff will see their salary go up by 3.9 to 4.4 percent, the airline said in a statement on Thursday.

An one-month bonus will also be granted to eligible staff in their December paycheck.

“This arrangement reflects the impact that changes in the cost of living have on staff in different salary bands,” the statement said.

The pay adjustment came after pilots decided to stage a work-to-rule action over a long-standing pay dispute with management, RTHK reported Thursday.

Pilot members based in Hong Kong, New Zealand and the United States will be instructed to perform their assigned duties in strict conformance with their existing conditions of service, according to the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association.

The HKAOA represents 2,100 of the airline’s 2,900 pilots. Of those who voted, 93 percent opted for the work-to-rule action.

That means they will do no more than the minimum required under their contracts, which could lead to flight delays or cancellations.

Cathay said it will try its best to make sure flights are operated as scheduled, adding that it will set aside enough resources in case any operational problem occurs.

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